Advent themes

Isaiah 2:2-5
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord ’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!

Invitation
Come to this table
To meet the God of hope
Come to this table
To meet the God of peace
Come to this table
To meet the God of love
Come to this table
To meet the God of joy
The Advent God meets us here
Welcoming us into the light.

Narrative
The night before he died
Jesus gathered his friends around the table
and gave them this memorial
by which to remember him.
He took bread, blessed it, broke it and shared.
He took wine and spoke of the new relationship
made possible with God.
He shared with all, even those he knew would betray him and let him down.
And he bids us do likewise now.
Today as we prepare to celebrate again Christ's coming into the world
we recognise God present already
in these gifts of bread and wine.
And, knowing ourselves included in this feast
we pause to offer our thanks
Let us pray.

Great prayer of Thanksgiving
God how often have we betrayed you?
How often have we let you down?
And yet here you are for us, made new in bread and wine
holding out for us
the promise of new beginnings.
You invite us to walk in light
and to travel the path of peace.
As we share in your feast
we bring with us all those who live in darkness,
and those whose lives are blighted
by war and violence.
As we share in your feast
we bring those who live without hope,
those for whom love has become painful
and those whose joy has been snuffed out.
As we share in your feast
we bring those who have no bread
no warm place to share with friends.
As we share in your feast
we bring those left out in the cold,
shunned and overlooked.
You were born among us
to show us a new way to live
embracing all in your love
surrounding all with your light.
Advent God as we know ourselves
swept up in your hope and your promise
may we find new ways to live in peace.
Bless this bread that we break
and this cup that we share.
As we encounter your Spirit here
may we be led in paths
of peace and light
worshipping you, one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

Fraction
At supper with his friends
Jesus held out the promise of peace
in bread broken and shared.
The body of Christ broken for us.

As he passed the cup
he offered love that knows no bounds.
The blood of Christ shed for us.

Here is Advent hope offered for our nourishment
that we might serve one another
and walk the paths of peace and love.


Prayer
God as we have responded to your invitation today
and been nourished by your love
we join that stream of pilgrims
who through the years
have found their way
to your house.
We thank you for all the saints
who join us in this feast.
Teach us now how to live in peace
and practice love
until all find their way to your house.
May the hope of this season bring joy
to all your children through Christ the light of the world.
Amen

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